LETTERS

THE HARTFORD COURANT

Lack Of Budget

A Serious Matter

The board of fire commissioners of the South Fire District has the responsibility for establishing a proposed budget for the fire district, which the voters of the fire district adopt or reject at a meeting called for that purpose. To date, two budgets have been proposed and rejected. The lack of a budget is a serious matter and will eventually affect the operation of the district.

The district's fiscal year began on July 1 but because there was no adopted budget, tax bills could not be generated and in turn no new revenues have been collected. Without revenue, the district's function of fire protection and emergency response will be put in jeopardy.

In response to the voters' rejection of the prior budget, a new reduced budget is now being proposed for adoption by the voters. Changes to the budget have been made and include transferring $116,264 from the general fund to lower the tax rate. With these changes, our proposed tax rate is now 3.628 mills. Using round numbers, with a property assessed at $100,000 the difference in fire tax from the previous year would be $6.80 versus the $20 increase previously proposed.

These reductions are significant, particularly in a very difficult year when costs are continuing to rise. The board of fire commissioners understands that our taxpayers also face the same rising costs and are responding to that fact while still trying to maintain a community-based organization for fire and rescue services. The board of fire commissioners asks each voter to seriously consider any prior objection to the budget, evaluate what is now proposed and adopt this revised budget.

Copies of the budget are available at the fire station and will be published in the newspaper as a legal notice.

Voting on the budget will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse. Absentee ballots are available at the town clerk's office.

Anton A. Petras, Middletown

The writer is chairman of the board of fire commissioners.

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Clarifying The Issues

The South District Fire Department in Middletown has had the department's annual operating budget voted down twice. As a commissioner of the department, I would like to clarify some of the reasons that have been misconstrued.

The department's two deputy fire chiefs have different jobs. The first deputy chief is the fire marshal who also acts as second-in-command to the chief. The main duty of the second deputy fire chief is to train the firefighters. He also keeps aware of any mandated Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and prepares the necessary reports that go to OSHA. One of the very important duties that is his responsibility is filing for grants. For example, the department has two thermal imaging cameras, which are used when the firefighters enter a burning and smoke-filled structure looking for survivors. Both of these cameras were obtained through grants. If the department had to purchase them, the cost for each would have been approximately $18,000 and those dollars would have come out of the annual operating budget and ultimately would have been contained in the taxpayer's taxes. In regard to his compensation, the salary for this position is between $60,000 and $70,000 a year. A contract type of a training mentor is definitely not the way to go. In training, the person in charge must know the people he is training, what their capabilities are, their strengths and how they react under certain circumstances. The automobile for this officer would have restricted use within the South District and only upon the approval of the commission.

Reducing the budget any less will put a dangerous restriction on the operation of the department. The commission is imploring taxpayers to approve the new budget and also asks that the taxpayers take a more active part in the operation of the department by attending the monthly meetings and participating in the decisions of the department.

W.M. Simpson Sr., Middletown

The writer is commissioner of South Fire District.

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Buying Open Space:

Important Purchase

It is my pleasure to write in support of the open space acquisition of the Chapman Mill Pond/Lake Laconia property in the northwest portion of Westbrook. This land is an integral part of Westbrook's Plan of Conservation and Development and will help the town keep its small-town character and rural nature. The Chapman Mill Pond purchase would allow the town to balance development with preservation and ease the pressures placed on our property taxes.

Funding for the purchase would come from the $2.2 million open space authorization passed by the voters of Westbrook at a referendum in January.

Westbrook is in a unique position to protect valuable natural resources and establish a greenway from the northern section of Westbrook to the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.

Chapman Mill Pond is 83 acres of pristine land and has all the attributes necessary to be considered by the townspeople of Westbrook. It protects our water resources and wildlife habitat, offers recreational opportunities and preserves an important part of our history.

A vital link to our past and the future, I wholeheartedly urge the voters of Westbrook to support the purchase of the Chapman Mill Pond Property, a vital link to our past and the future, Wednesday.